STAFF at closure-threatened Forest Road Post Office have been “blown away” by the show of support from the local community.

STAFF at closure-threatened Forest Road Post Office have been “blown away” by the show of support from the local community.

Southport FC are the latest outfit to throw their weight behind an ever-growing campaign to save the beleaguered branch from the axe.

Forest Road is one of 2,500 set for the chop nationwide, as the Post Office attempts to cut multi-million pound losses.

Post Offices in Churchtown, Mere Brow and Shirdley Hill are also to close, potentially as soon as April, subject to the ongoing public consultation period.

Southport FC chief executive Haydn Preece said: “The football club use Forest Road regularly and older people will be severely disadvantaged if it shuts. It seems to me to be a thriving Post Office.

“The Post Office is part of the local community, as we are, and it will be sorely missed if it goes. We must do everything to ensure it remains open.”

An in-branch petition against the closure has now amassed more than 1,500 signatures, whilst another petition is in operation at Southport Indoor Market.

Sub-postmistress Jude Cropper commented: “We have been blown away. Things are going really well. Lots of people have been writing letters of support, and we have got our fingers crossed that we will survive.

“We will wait and see what happens at the end of the month, but we will keep fighting all the way.”

She said: “I had a robust discussion with senior Post Office officials where I raised the concerns of my constituents who will be losing some services.

“West Lancs will not be hit as hard as other parts of the country under these proposed changes and I have been assured that further closures are unlikely.”

Representations against the Post Office closures can be e-mailed to john.siddle@southportvisiter.co.uk, or sent to Southport Visiter, 26-32 Tulketh Street, Southport PR8 1BT – we will forward them to the Post Office Consultation Team.